1. The company photographer arrives to take your photo for the annual report. What does the shot look like?
(a) I’m riding a giant model plane with my thumbs up
(b) I’m standing in a first class cabin – none of my staff are allowed here
(c) It’s a head and shoulders shot, pretty standard really
(d) My branded baseball cap clashes delightfully with my smart suit
2. How would you describe your airline’s pilots?
(a) The power-house of the airline – without flights we would earn no revenue
(b) My chauffeurs
(c) A team of professionals dedicated to safety and operational reliability
(d) Like everyone else who works here, a critical part of my airline’s family
3. What is the single most important piece of data you look at every day?
(a) Cash in the bank this year vs. last year
(b) I check all the flight attendants are wearing their hats in the right way
(c) CASK
(d) It’s not really data, but I always attend the agile scrum for the commercial marketplace
4. How are your flights fuelled?
(a) It’s a potent brew of leprechaun wee and my BS
(b) According to my instructions
(c) We are working hard to implement a Sustainable Aviation Fuel solution – go planet!
(d) Jet A1 – the Captains each decide how much they need
5. The hangar maintenance team need to purchase three plastic buckets – what is the correct procedure?
(a) I’ll pop into the supermarket and put the receipt in for petty cash – about $15
(b) Issue a 10 page RFP to eight suppliers – total $642
(c) Look on Amazon and buy the cheapest – total $18.97 including delivery
(d) Buy them on our own super-app – low prices and we get commission back
6. Are you a member of your airline’s own loyalty programme?
(a) No, we don’t have one and our profits are excellent without one thank you
(b) Of course not, I’ve got free flights for life
(c) Yes, I recently used 20,000 Sky Shillings to save $20 on an economy class flight for my son – no, I did not realise the same 20k could have upgraded him to biz
(d) Yes, and lots of others too – the points we earn on the company Amex help me treat the team to top-notch flights at no cost
7. What do you enjoy talking about most with other airline CEOs?
(a) Race horses and wine
(b) Luxury travel
(c) NDC
(d) The bond market
8. Oh no! There is an emergency – what is the first thing you do?
(a) Head straight to the ops centre and take briefings – my team are well trained and we will get through it together
(b) Head straight to the ops centre and sit in my big chair
(c) Head straight to the ops centre and put on my high viz jacket
(d) Head straight to the ops centre and prepare for tough decisions – my team are great but in the end I am responsible
So how did you score?
Mostly a – you are the Jolly CEO!
You are serious in business but also know how to party. No corner office for you, but your race horses, luxury cars and wine cellar show that you appreciate the finer things in life. Which you do not need on a two hour flight. You will retire into wealth and popularity among those whose lives your airline made better…
Mostly b – you are the Megalomaniac CEO!
Imagine a James Bond villain running an airline. That’s you. You micro-manage and make staff tremble, which is a pity because if you were a nicer person the airline would be even better. You might retire comfortably, but on the other hand you might need to make use of that second passport…
Mostly c – you are the Boring CEO!
Your airline’s logo is blue or red, probably blue. You will run three to four carriers before retiring into an obscure but highly paid and tax-free NGO gig. You will work hard but little will change on your watch, which is how the really important CEOs like it…
Mostly d – you are the Enterprising CEO!
Your airline is not your first business and not your last either. You have learnt, painfully, that buying AOCs is better than building. Retiring is for wimps…
Write and tell me your score!
oliver AT ransonpricing DOT com